Hospital tour: What would/did you ask or wished you had asked?

kristin172429

Yay, we are taking our hospital tour today!!!! It is oddly exciting to know we are this close.  I am putting together a list of questions, but wondered: what do you plan on asking, did you ask about, or wished you had asked when you were there?  

I know I have questions about natural birth, IV options, if they have wireless monitors, etc.  Would love to get some input to make sure I don't miss anything important!

THANKS!!!! 

sapphirebride06

Ask about visiting hours, how quickly after the birth do you want visitors and will the nurses help enforce that.  What hours are available for food, what do they provide for you and for the baby so you know what to pack and what not to.  What can they offer your H in terms of where to sleep/rest, etc. during labor and delivery and then during postpartum if your H will stay with you. 

Do they help enforce a new family time before lettting guests in after delivery?  How quickly will you see a LC if you plan on breastfeeding?  What do you need in terms of breastfeeding, if you need to pump for any reason will they provide one, etc.  That's all I can think of right now.

Lilcountrysmiles

sapphirebride06:

Ask about visiting hours, how quickly after the birth do you want visitors and will the nurses help enforce that.  What hours are available for food, what do they provide for you and for the baby so you know what to pack and what not to.  What can they offer your H in terms of where to sleep/rest, etc. during labor and delivery and then during postpartum if your H will stay with you. 

Do they help enforce a new family time before lettting guests in after delivery?  How quickly will you see a LC if you plan on breastfeeding?  What do you need in terms of breastfeeding, if you need to pump for any reason will they provide one, etc.  That's all I can think of right now.

WOW! Thank you for this! I didn't even think of ANY of these questions!!

 Great post OP!!

boydstm

Ask about food/coffee options for DH. The hosptial I am delievering at doesn't have coffee machines anywhere and the cafeteria closes at 1:30pm every day. We are having to make arrangements for someone to bring food/drinks for DH while he is staying with me (since he has adamantly declared he will NOT be leaving LO's side or mine).

elizxu

Ask about car seat checks too.

2chatter

Ask about food for you too.  DH was shocked to find out they have a chef and provide a menu for he and I - we get to pick what we both get. 

 Ask what happens if you have BF problems in a middle of the night delivery (Many LCs are 9-5ish as opposed to overnight shifts).  With my last I had to use shields (a total last resort) and I want to know someone could get them for me if an LC is not around. 

Ask about their policy for FF v BF.  My first hospital tried to force me to FF one bottle because they had miscounted DD's wet dipes. 

Ask what their stance is on moving around during labor - first hospital was walking only...second birth was this cool tube thing and a birthing ball, which I was very skeptical about, but rocked! 

Ask about their rooming in policy - my hospital changed, and now they room in 100% unless the baby has issues.  No more extra sleep while baby is in the nursery.....unless I beg for it apparently.  They also instituted quiet hours from 1-3, so you might ask about those.  Apparently the nurses leave you alone. 

Also, about how long you will stay...with my first two it was 24 hours, apparently state law now mandates 48 here for a vag delivery, unless you want to discharge AMA.

sapphirebride06

Sure - glad I could help!  They will probably cover a lot, but it might be nice to get the email address or phone number of someone in case you get some last minute questions you wanted to address but forgot.   And we have a chef too - it's awesome!  The first meal after delivery is apparently AMAZING and they offer a prenatal massage for free (I think it's 15 mins but still - and you can buy more time if you want) so that's exciting.  My hospital encourages rooming in - which is fine by me.  I'd rather want DS with me than the nursery that's for sure!

sparks2987

Some of the things I want to know include alot of what PP have mentioned already I will also add

- newborn testing, what tests are performed at birth or how quickly after birth are they performed, and where, in my room or somewhere else

- What happens if all L&D rooms are full when I check in (our hospital is small and has 5 rooms in L&D, MIL swears that if they are full you have to wait in the hall while you progress, I think she is crazy) 

kristin172429

Thanks, ladies.  Your posts were super helpful!  Just got back from the tour and they answered most of my questions on their own, but I did ask a few.  I was so happy to learn about how progressive our hospital is with breastfeeding (they have lactation consultants and a large number of nurses with lactation specialties), skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, natural birth options (including heplocks instead of IV, birthing balls, and squat bars).  It was a really positive experience and the tour lady was super helpful.  She also said we can call her at any time if we have other questions.  I feel so much more prepared and less anxious about having a natural birth in a hospital setting.  Now we just have to actually pack our hospital bag!!!